South Westnedge Corridor

South Westnedge Corridor

Improving a major artery to local businesses

South Westnedge Avenue is the primary corridor route for the City of Portage. Abonmarche was hired to develop a gateway park at the northern city limit. The site required a study of the adjacent Meijer parking lot and the location of the existing bus shelter to enhance access to public transit. Our recommendations included the realignment of a portion of the parking lot and relocation of the bus stop to the north side of Portage Creek to reduce previous pedestrian/vehicular conflicts.

An accessible pedestrian trail system with a bridge leading from Meijer to the bus stop was developed. The park also contained a water feature focal point, naturalized plantings, a stone retaining wall, benches and lighting to provide a unifying element to other city parks. Abonmarche also completed design engineering, utility coordination and right-of-way engineering for the South Westnedge Enhancements Projects, from I-94 to the northern city limit. Abonmarche played a critical part in coordinating the project with business owners along this busy commercial corridor. Other important project aspects included construction of median curbs, box culvert extension, traffic signal replacement, landscaping, irrigation and individual site plan improvements for each of the properties along the corridor to facilitate the property acquisition process. The project, which has greatly benefited local businesses, was completed in the fall of 2008.